Puerto Rico status referendum - June 11

[zorkpolitics]

As far as DC statehood goes, it is constitutionally mandated that there must be a federal district for the federal government, which of course could be reduced in size as proposed here.

However, this rump district of a few buildings would still be entitled to three electoral votes per the 23rd Amendment which would be a rather ludicrous situation.

Why should a city be a state?  Why not just return the residential parts of D.C. To MD?  In the 1840's the VA part of D.C. (Arlington and Alexandria counties) was returned to VA.  Follow the same process for what remains of D.C., except for a small federal district.  MD would get one more congressman and one more EV, then the 3 EVs for D.C. can be repealed.

[zorkpolitics]

Nothing bars a city from becoming a state, but all other states must reconcile urban and rural interest a city state would lack "diversity".  Again why create a new path when there is a clear historical precedence for D.C.
This would seem to be the best compromise the two parties could come up with. The D.C. Residents get full Congressional representation, a longtime goal of the Democrats, and the Democrats get an additional Democratic Congressman.  The GOP doesn't have to accept 2 additional Democratic Senators and gets a net 2 reduction in guaranteed Democratic EVs. 

[zorkpolitics]

Everyone is ignoring the obvious flaw in the referendum, it failed to offer a logical choice: give Puero Rico back to Spain, let them deal with the bankruptcy of their former colony. 
That way we won't have to be politically incorrect and require Puerto Rico to teach English.